Our Guide To The South Pacific.
Happiness Is Closer Than You Think!
    
If you've ever had THAT picture of a tropical island as your desktop wallpaper (you know the one we're talking about - a white sandy beach, azure blue waters and swaying palm trees) chances are it was taken on one of the many tiny islands scattered across the South Pacific.

Despite these picture perfect scenes making it onto computer screens worldwide, the location of the islands (much closer to the Australian east coast than the Maldives, Mauritius or even Bali) means they receive relatively little tourist traffic from outside of Australasia. Did you know, for example, that Tahiti receives less visitors in a year than Hawaii does in a day?

It's a destination worthy of closer inspection, so let's do exactly that!
  
Melissa's South Pacific Experience

Last year I was lucky enough to enjoy a quick educational trip to beautiful Vanuatu! I found Vanuatu to be warm and friendly with a surprisingly rich culture. And just under 5 hours, direct flight from Melbourne makes it an easy winter escape. Suitable to travellers of all types.

Amongst the high-end luxury resorts, are a smattering of wallet-friendly and boutique options proving that paradise doesn’t have to break the bank, and 
with South Pacific likely to be the next international destination (after New Zealand) open for travel from Australia, get ready to plan your trip now!
 
  
Pick An Island... Any Island!
With over three hundred islands to choose from, Fiji is an amazingly versatile destination. Whether you’re after a luxury honeymoon retreat, a lively backpacker island or a family-friendly resort you won’t be disappointed. You’ll also find warm, hospitable people, an intriguing blend of Melanesians, Polynesians and Indians.
   
Sculpted by sky-piercing, moss-green peaks and lined with vivid turquoise lagoons, sultry French Polynesia is a place to take it slow and experience warm, laid-back island culture. Home to some of the world's most exquisite coral reefs, this chain of islands offers opportunities for surfers and snorkellers alike!
   
Fifteen droplets of land cast across 2 million square kilometers of wild Pacific blue, the Cook Islands are simultaneously remote and accessible, modern and traditional. If stillness is what you are after, you will find it on a luxurious retreat to this intimate and remote chain of islands.
    
Secluded from mainstream tourism the Pitcairn Islands are a must see for those
 seeking truly remote horizons. Gain firsthand insight into the living history and culture of the people of Pitcairn Island - the direct descendants of the HMAV Bounty mutineers, and their Polynesian consorts.
    
  
Our Tip: Go Beyond The Beach!
The South Pacific offers a wide rage of unique cultural heritage experiences and each destination differs from the other in wonderful ways. From a historical perspective, the South Pacific played an important part in World War II and there are sites both above ground and underwater which continue to attract cultural heritage tourists and divers year after year.
  
Warm & Wet or Warm & Dry?

Thanks to their close vicinity to the equator, the islands of the South Pacific stay warm all year round, getting extra toasty in the summer months. More rain tends to fall from December through to March, so if you avoid Summer & school holidays you're almost guaranteed to find a quiet spot for some much-deserved rest & relaxation.
  
Hints Of Citrus And... Coral?
The island of Rangiroa has the only winery in the world growing on a coral atoll. It is called Vin du Tahiti. The vines grow in fields of crushed coral structured and are enriched with natural compost - essentially seaweed and vine canes from pruning. Papaya trees and Tahitian Gardenia protect the environmentally friendly plantations from salty ocean mists. Give it a try!
  


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